Britain’s economic meltdown must be settled by a firm grip and real growth Ben Ramanauskas To say it’s been a dramatic week in financial markets would be an understatement. The reaction to the government’s so-called “mini-budget” has seen the value of sterling crash and has led to criticism from the IMF and the Federal Reserve and an unprecedented intervention from the Bank of England who have been forced to buy [...]
As we redefine levelling up, don’t ignore the poverty in London for political points BEN RAMANAUSKAS London is also home to some of the most deprived areas in the country. There are pockets of poverty in practically every borough of London, including some of the most affluent.
It’s time to ignore the Nimbys tucked up in to bed by 10pm and re-pedestrianise Soho BEN RAMANAUSKAS It’s not simply a question of unfairness to young people - though it is for anyone who doesn’t want to be tucked up in bed with a Horlicks at 11 - it’s also damaging to London’s economy.
Tariff-free trade with developing countries is good – but we can do better to open up August 23, 2022 Some of the world’s poorest countries will get one of the biggest trade boosts to export goods to the UK. Last week, the Department for International Trade announced plans to up the ante on existing EU rules, which already allow for less economically developed countries to export goods into the EU and the UK without [...]
We should question the mandate of the Bank of England – not its independence July 28, 2022 ONE OF the most surprising things to come out of the race to replace Boris Johnson as leader of the Conservative Party has been the space the Bank of England has taken up in the discourse. One unsuccessful candidate argued the government should have more oversight of the Bank’s activities and current frontrunner Liz Truss [...]
Tax cuts won’t cut it; the new Tory leader must bring about innovation July 13, 2022 As I write, every candidate vying to be the next Conservative Party leader – with the exception of Rishi Sunak – has promised major tax cuts. In many ways this is welcome, as taxes can deter investment and increase the cost of living. During a time where families are struggling to make ends meet and [...]
Johnson’s plans for further steel tariffs are a black mark against Global Britain June 28, 2022 Boris Johnson has said he intends to extend tariffs on steel from China. This is a clear breach of WTO rules and, allegedly, was the final straw for his ethics adviser. But to Johnson this is the reasonable next step. He will also impose them on other countries, this time in line with rules from [...]
Russia will weaponise a refugee crisis if we’re not prepared to open our arms February 25, 2022 Putin has invaded Ukraine. He was never going to be satisfied with only taking Donetsk and Luhansk. The result will be a bloody and likely protracted war accompanied by another refugee crisis as many Ukrainians make the heart-wrenching decision to desert their home. Britain has a long and proud history of welcoming refugees, especially from [...]
Shots for Covid-19 shots? It’s time to dangle carrots to tempt the unvaccinated January 14, 2022 Yesterday, self-isolation rules for those with Covid-19 were cut to five days. This marks a milestone as the UK plots its way out of a gamble of a winter strategy to keep the virus at bay. The enduring problem, however, is the number of unvaccinated people in the UK filling up hospital beds. The risk [...]
DEBATE: Should Hammond keep the Tory promise and increase the higher-rate tax threshold to £50,000? October 29, 2018 Should Philip Hammond keep the Tory promise and increase the higher-rate tax threshold to £50,000? Ben Ramanauskas, researcher at the Taxpayers’ Alliance, says YES. People earning £45,000 (the current threshold) can no longer be considered wealthy, particularly considering the high cost of living in our major cities. There is a housing crisis in the UK, [...]
